Diesel Usage - Team-BHP

shivag · 28th August 2006, 17:40

Hi folks,

I have a question for the experts here, which has been bothering me for quite sometime ( I searched and couldn't find answer in the earlier posts hence the new thread).

I own a 2004 Fiat Petra diesel which has done some 35k kms so far and fairly agile.....now that my usage of the vehicle has come down drastically but is needed at crucial times say once or twice a week for 80 - 100 kms altogether.

All I wanted to know whether such limited usage of a diesel engine do any harm to the engine itself or any other depedant component say the battery or anything else. I am told that deisel is idle only if you clock higher kms on a daily basis orelse petrol should do ..but I love this car and own it now ...so that doesn;t hold good now.

Please clarify and also share your thoughts on any special care that I should follow while maintaining my car under such limited usage...

Yours thoughts are very much appreciated !

P.S I am also told that I should atleast start the car (keep it idling) for atleast 5 mins daily ?

cooldude1988765 · 28th August 2006, 20:08

I dont think you need to idle the car for 5 mins everyday.. Those were for older cars i guess

Diesel is ideal for people who drive a lot as they can recover the extra money spent on the diesel variant as compared to the petrol ones... Since you already have the car i see no reason to sell it now ....

Steeroid · 28th August 2006, 20:44

You dont need to idle for 5 minutes or any such exact stretch of time. Idle till you feel the engine settling down - noise levels would go down, even if marginally, and the rpm will drop a wee bit.

Petrol or diesel, I still idle my vehicles the first time every day till I feel the engine has settled down - unless I'm in a hurry. Maybe I'm old-fashioned.

cooldude1988765 · 28th August 2006, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

You dont need to idle for 5 minutes or any such exact stretch of time. Idle till you feel the engine settling down - noise levels would go down, even if marginally, and the rpm will drop a wee bit.

Petrol or diesel, I still idle my vehicles the first time every day till I feel the engine has settled down - unless I'm in a hurry. Maybe I'm old-fashioned.

Steeroid i think what he meant was whether or not to just start the car and keep it idle for 5 min even though he is not driving the car ...

Correct me if i am wrong

shivag · 30th August 2006, 13:41

Cooldude! you are right ......I wanted to know whether starting the diesel engine daily is mandatory since the usage is limited?

tsk1979 · 30th August 2006, 13:53

It is not needed. Long term parking of the order of month or more can cause problems sometimes, but now a few days.

arif_t01 · 30th August 2006, 14:57

actually, i think the reason is very simple as everyone knows.......its for keeping your car battery in good condition!......if you dont start your car for a prolonged period of time, the battery will be dead......hence, start your car once in a while, may be once a day........but its always ideal that you let your car idle for 5 min every morn or in other words "cold starting"

filcord · 30th August 2006, 15:21

If your battery is good, and you run it 100 km every few days, no problem. You do not need to start the car every day.

tsk1979 · 30th August 2006, 15:29

Disconnect the battery before leaving the car parked, it will not discharge before 4-5 months atleast(experience).
without disconnection, it does not discharge before 40 days atleast(experience again)

shivag · 1st September 2006, 15:08

Thank you so much gentlemen for all your inputs ..thanks a lot

Rover · 1st September 2006, 16:02

The max I have left my diesel Indica undriven was for about 20 days. My job would take me out of town at regular intervals for 7/8 days and no one would drive the car during these times.

Even after such non-usage the car would always start at the first crank.

I guess, you can rest easy.

gd1418 · 20th September 2006, 22:11

My friend who owns a Qualis had left his vehicle with me for about 6 months while he was away. I parked it in my garage and disconnected the Battery. Two days before he was to return to claim his Qualis I connected the terminals and tried starting it. The batery was quite low. hence put a jumper from my Safari and then cranked the Qualis engine. It fired in in the second attempt and then settled down to a nice purr.

The I drove the Qualis for about 42 Kms and the battery topped up. No issues whatsoever. You may like to draw your own conclusion of this..!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover

The max I have left my diesel Indica undriven was for about 20 days. My job would take me out of town at regular intervals for 7/8 days and no one would drive the car during these times.

Even after such non-usage the car would always start at the first crank.

I guess, you can rest easy.

28th August 2006, 20:08	#2 (permalink)
cooldude1988765 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 548	I dont think you need to idle the car for 5 mins everyday.. Those were for older cars i guess Diesel is ideal for people who drive a lot as they can recover the extra money spent on the diesel variant as compared to the petrol ones... Since you already have the car i see no reason to sell it now .... __________________ I never thought it was humanly possible, but this both sucks and blows. - Bart Simpson

28th August 2006, 20:44	#3 (permalink)
Steeroid Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: DXB Posts: 5,640 View My Garage	You dont need to idle for 5 minutes or any such exact stretch of time. Idle till you feel the engine settling down - noise levels would go down, even if marginally, and the rpm will drop a wee bit. Petrol or diesel, I still idle my vehicles the first time every day till I feel the engine has settled down - unless I'm in a hurry. Maybe I'm old-fashioned. __________________ Cheers Steer Petrols Suck. Diesels Torque. Q.E.D

30th August 2006, 13:53	#6 (permalink)
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Noida, New Delhi Posts: 8,793 View My Garage	It is not needed. Long term parking of the order of month or more can cause problems sometimes, but now a few days. __________________ Reclaiming.....!

30th August 2006, 14:57	#7 (permalink)
arif_t01 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Trivandrum, Kerala Posts: 192	actually, i think the reason is very simple as everyone knows.......its for keeping your car battery in good condition!......if you dont start your car for a prolonged period of time, the battery will be dead......hence, start your car once in a while, may be once a day........but its always ideal that you let your car idle for 5 min every morn or in other words "cold starting" __________________ Trying To Discover A New Identity!

30th August 2006, 15:21	#8 (permalink)
filcord BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: goa Posts: 504	If your battery is good, and you run it 100 km every few days, no problem. You do not need to start the car every day. __________________ Hyundai Getz 05 Baleno Vxi 05

28th August 2006, 17:40	#1 (permalink)
shivag Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 15	Hi folks, I have a question for the experts here, which has been bothering me for quite sometime ( I searched and couldn't find answer in the earlier posts hence the new thread). I own a 2004 Fiat Petra diesel which has done some 35k kms so far and fairly agile.....now that my usage of the vehicle has come down drastically but is needed at crucial times say once or twice a week for 80 - 100 kms altogether. All I wanted to know whether such limited usage of a diesel engine do any harm to the engine itself or any other depedant component say the battery or anything else. I am told that deisel is idle only if you clock higher kms on a daily basis orelse petrol should do ..but I love this car and own it now ...so that doesn;t hold good now. Please clarify and also share your thoughts on any special care that I should follow while maintaining my car under such limited usage... Yours thoughts are very much appreciated ! P.S I am also told that I should atleast start the car (keep it idling) for atleast 5 mins daily ?

30th August 2006, 13:41	#5 (permalink)
shivag Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 15	Cooldude! you are right ......I wanted to know whether starting the diesel engine daily is mandatory since the usage is limited?

30th August 2006, 15:29	#9 (permalink)
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Noida, New Delhi Posts: 8,793 View My Garage	Disconnect the battery before leaving the car parked, it will not discharge before 4-5 months atleast(experience). without disconnection, it does not discharge before 40 days atleast(experience again) __________________ Reclaiming.....!

1st September 2006, 15:08	#10 (permalink)
shivag Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 15	Thank you so much gentlemen for all your inputs ..thanks a lot

1st September 2006, 16:02	#11 (permalink)
Rover BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore, Airplanes, Hotel Rooms Posts: 100	The max I have left my diesel Indica undriven was for about 20 days. My job would take me out of town at regular intervals for 7/8 days and no one would drive the car during these times. Even after such non-usage the car would always start at the first crank. I guess, you can rest easy. __________________ The destination is not important! Enjoy the journey.........

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